A Rare Old Vanuatu Carved Wood Men’s Back Ornament Espiritu Santo Island in Northern Vanuatu

A Rare Old Vanuatu Carved Wood Men’s Back Ornament Espiritu Santo Island in Northern Vanuatu Collected in the late 19th Century 

This rare and beautiful Men’s Back Ornament is from Espiritu Santo Island in Samna Province in Northern Vanuatu ( formerly known as The New Hebrides Islands)

It would have been worn only by a man of a certain grade in the men’s secret societies for which Vanuatu is well known. Artworks and Ornaments were made specifically for levels or grades in the men’s secret societies. I have looked very hard for a historical photo of a man wearing one of these ornaments but I haven’t found it yet, I am sure that one exists. If you see any photos of one being worn, could you please let me know?

The beautiful refined ovoid form is flat on the side it would have rested on the man’s back. There are pecked designs around the edge of the wood ornament which I think has a meaning or is for counting not just a design. The wood ornament has a fine tree bark string belt decorated with old trade beads that were used to attach it to your waist.

Provenance: Captain William Campbell Thomson ( 1851 – 1934 ).  The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art 

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